Communist Party of El Salvador

(CPES, Partido Comunista de El Salvador), a party founded at a congress in March 1930. It has had considerable influence among workers and peasants. Persecution of the party began after the establishment of the Martinez military dictatorship in December 1931. The CPES was active in the popular uprising of 1932, which was harshly suppressed by the authorities. Many party organizations were smashed and a number of party leaders killed. In May 1944 the dictatorship fell as a result of a general strike, which the Communists played an important role in organizing.

The Second Congress of the CPES (August 1946) discussed questions of party reorganization and adopted party rules.

The Program of National Unity was adopted at the Third Congress (1948). The fundamental demand was the creation of a united front of all democratic forces. The Fourth Congress (August 1950) took place as the party’s activity continued to gain in scope; its authority and influence among the working class, peasantry, and intelligentsia was growing. The Fifth Congress (February 1964) discussed drafts for general and agrarian programs and adopted new rules. The Sixth, Extraordinary Congress (August 1970) discussed questions of party development.

Delegations of the CPES took part in the work of the international Conferences of Communist and Workers’ Parties (1957, 1960, and 1969 in Moscow). The CPES approved the documents adopted at the conferences.

The CPES is organized in accord with the principle of democratic centralism. The supreme party body is the Congress; between congresses, the party’s activity is directed by the Central Committee, which elects the Political Commission and a Secretariat. The central organ is the newspaper La Verdad.